At some stage in your business journey you may look for  investment to help you  start or grow. This week in  ep 141 Luke Desmond joins the podcast to demystify investment and explain the investment landscape, who you should be approaching depending on what stage your business is at and the funds you are looking for.  Highlights of this episode include: Pitching to Investors: The value of a compelling story, clear data, and a precise ask in your pitch deck. Understand your business valuation and be prepared with all necessary documentation. Business Valuation: Factors influ ..read more

Using a distributor for your beauty or wellness  brand can catapult your growth.  In ep 139 of start scale succeed host Nicole Higgins chats with Catherine Collins about the practical tips for identifying and collaborating with the right distributor.  Catherine established a distribution agency in the middle east and now provides expert consultancy for beauty and wellness brands  This week some of the topics covered are  The pivotal role of distributors in a brand's expansion and the critical factors that determine when a brand is ready to work with a distributor. The ..read more

The retail market in the middle east is worth approx $80 billion dollars, but how do you break into that market as a brand and what do you need to consider  In this episode of Start Scale Succeed Nicole chats with Abbie founder of base brands a brand strategy & consulting company based in Dubai about selling and launching in the Dubai market  Some of the areas discussed are:  Tips and advice for breaking into the market  from customers to logistics  What to consider culturally and shopping habits in Dubai  Trends & Market changes that are emerging in the ..read more

Recent closures of high street chains further highlights the challenges of bricks and mortar stores, but how are the new kids on the block building their businesses and creating a community.  This episode I chat with Cat Anderson founder of sustainable clothing store Treen a  vegan fashion retailer, offering a selection of style must-haves from a carefully selected group of brands that make a positive difference. Providing a killer wardrobe without Killing the planet.  This episode we chat about her start up journey, what she is doing to build the business and building relations ..read more

On average 35-40% of your turnover in your product business should come from your email marketing. If you're not quite reaching that target then this episode is for you.  This week in the start scale succeed podcast I chat with Hannah Spicer email marketing expert  During the podcast, Hannah shares valuable insights on: - Mistakes businesses make with their emails - Building effective retention and win-back email flows - Optimizing open and click-through rates - Creating engaging and successful email campaigns - And much more! If you're new to email marketing or looking to enhance yo ..read more

In this episode of Start Scale Succeed host Nicole Higgins is joined by guest Katie Tucker, author of "Do penguins eat peaches  and founder of Product Jungle. Together, they delve into the essential topic of understanding customers and how businesses can leverage this understanding to thrive. Katie provides invaluable insights into market research, customer discovery, and the importance of aligning with customer values. Listeners will gain practical tips for conducting effective surveys, testing product viability, and maintaining a collaborative approach with customers. Whether you're an ..read more

The UK wedding industry is worth £14 billion and this weeks’ Guest is definitely having their slice of the pie.  Revolutionizing the bridal industry with the “airbnb” of bridal rentals.  I chat with co-founder Ella Gaskell about PS Bridal Rental,  a rental and resale platform.  Celebrity Stylist Ella partnered with Zoe Jervoise Graham  to start the business after establishing during covid that there was a definite gap in the market for the idea  We discuss about how the idea came to life and how networking and tech accelerator programmes helped the business happen ..read more

Content pillars - a term we often hear talked about in relation to social media and creating content but what are they?  how many should you have? and how do you establish what they are, In this episode Nicole chats with Char Dixon ex head of marketing for Dune and New Look (to name a few ) and founder of loud mouth content.  Chars’ aim is to reduce the overwhelm of content creation for small business owners    The episode guides both new and existing businesses on reassessing scattered content and aligning it with both brand values and audience interests    Char ..read more

From running home on her lunch break  to post orders to now owning a bricks and mortar store, a thriving online business and co-founding a ladies fashion brand.  In this weeks episode of Start scale succeed (ep 131) I chat with Sophie Cafolla founder of stock & Co a stunning children’s lifestyle brand on how the brand has evolved over the years and why bricks and mortar is key to their growth.  Sophie shares great insight and tips that will really help and inspire you in you business and on your journey. Listen to hear how: Sophie Embraced Failure Using early setbacks as lea ..read more

In this episode, we sit down with Nikki Coe, a branding expert and business coach specializing in working with co-founders.  Nikki shares her insights on why 65% of high-potential businesses fail due to co-founder fallout and offers valuable advice on nurturing successful partnerships.  From identifying tensions within the business to the importance of open communication, Nikki provides practical tips and real-life examples to help co-founders navigate the complexities of their relationships.  www.nickicoe.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicki-coe https://www.nickicoe.com ..read more